I have had the opportunity to be part of Downtown Dog Rescue (DDR) for some years now as a volunteer- photographing their roster of dogs that are available for adoption as well as The Pet Resource Center is Skid Row to assist people and their pets with supplies and services. Back in Fall 2019 I started working at their kennel in South Gate ( right near Downey Shelter) one day a week! I now get to help take care of the doggies, walk them and clean their “house”. It’s been to great getting to spend time with big doggies, learning about their different type of behaviors and getting them ready for their next forever homes! I’m so grateful to be apart of their journey and to be able to document them and have a little part of them getting to their forever home.
Here is some history of the DDR kennel:
“Perhaps best of all, Downtown Dog Rescue has grown since the late `90s from a couple of kennels to its own state of the art facility in South Gate. The early days were about rescuing mostly former guard dogs and countless pets belonging to the homeless community of Skid Row (some of whom are still residents), along with a goal of reducing the number of stray dogs on their block. However, over the years, the more than three thousand dogs who have once called DDR their temporary home have all gone on to find forever homes with new packs and families. And DDR wants to be able to continue that as much as possible.
By forming relationships with people in animal welfare, including the support of larger organizations, Lori has led DDR in collaborative efforts that have had profound positive impact, allowing the group to do much more than would otherwise be possible. When Lori developed a plan for an innovative approach to helping pets stay out of shelters, she called on her allies.
Best Friends Animal Society and Found Animals recognized the vision and listened to what was needed to work quietly behind the scenes allowing DDR to implement the ground-breaking Shelter Intervention Program. This program, which has inspired similar programs around the country, has prevented thousands of pets from entering the shelter in just a few short years.
When the time came to create a plan where DDR could buy a property instead of leasing one, keeping its programs centered on the community instead of fundraising to pay an expensive lease, Best Friends was the first to help make a dream a reality. The new facility, “Second Chance Kennels” enables DDR to save more lives because there is twice the amount of space as the back of Modernica’s factory, as well as more volunteers with access to the dogs day and night. The kennels enable DDR to train rescuers on how to get more dogs into playgroups, promoting play as a way to facilitate health and adoptions.
The new facility does not stop DDR from providing spay/neuter surgeries or community dog training; rather it adds to its established outreach and service programs by providing a place to temporarily house some of the Shelter Intervention Program dogs. Due in part to the generosity of Best Friends and the support of Found Animals Foundation, DDR’s vision for education and change in the communities that need them most is possible and full of potential. “
If interested in finding out more on Downtown Dog Rescue please visit their website:
Always Adopt and NEVER EVER shop while millions of big and old doggies die in shelters country wide.
One love!
xo
